Bøker av Marina Oliver

Lord Clifford meets Elizabeth when his ward Annamarie announces she means to marry Sir Henry, Elizabeth's brother. Not only is Henry under age, Elizabeth controls his fortune. And sixteen-year-old Annamarie has been falling in love with unsuitable men for several years. Until he can resolve this complication he cannot turn his attention to courting Elizabeth. She, in turn, is wary of love after being cruelly jilted when she was just seventeen.

Dodie Fanshaw, escaping from London in January to stay with old Hollywood friends in Barbados, soon becomes involved with the local English and American ex-pat community. Enjoying the weather, the friendships, and learning to sail, she doesn't expect murder. But tensions are high, old quarrels are renewed, and several have motives but no one has an alibi. Dodie sets out to solve the mystery.

Rivalry in the golfing world leads to desperate measures, and romance. When Dominic Thorn's business selling golf equipment is threatened by former golfer Keith Livermore he enlists the help of various friends in Madeira. There is Catherine, divorced wife of golfing star Justin O'Brien, her father the Major, concerned when an old army buddy turns up who knows of the Major's fling with Jackie, Livermore's mother. Then flamboyant Jackie arrives to complicate matters.

When Peter Stannard inherits a Yorkshire estate from his uncle, he does not expect a proposal of marriage from a lady. Lady MacDonald's father and Peter's uncle once planned to unite the estates, until Edward Stannard eloped to Gretna with the Rector's daughter. Now Edward is dead, so is Lady Macdonald's husband. And her cousin Gabrielle proves to be a serious rival for Peter's affections.

When the Earl of Aylesford is killed in a riding accident, they have to wait for his child to be born. If it's a boy he will inherit. If not the title goes to Lord Patrick's brother Martin, but he is in America and has not been heard of for some time. The next heir is cousin Etienne. Then Martin's wife and son appear, saying Martin is dead.

Bella is forced, by her illegitimate half brother Henry, to marry the abusive Edward who is emigrating to the new settlement in Virginia. After a brutal wedding night she escapes, but Henry finds her and forces her to sail on the next ship. While caring for her sick baby brother Toby and his nurse Alice, she is helped by Adam, a wealthy settler already established on a James River plantation, and they fall in love. In Jamestown, however, Edward, by threatening Toby, forces Bella to go with him to his own recently acquired plantation. Can she ever escape from his cruel domination?

Coming out of the shower in her borrowed apartment, Rezia is confronted by a very angry - but very blond and attractive - young man. She expected her photographic commission in New York to be exciting - but not this exciting! Klaus turns out to live next door. Their quickly developing relationship is threatened by newspaper photographs of him he thinks she has taken. Rezia is looking forward to working in the major art galleries and museums in New York. And being given the use of Gina's luxury penthouse apartment overlooking Central Park when Gina suddenly goes away adds even more to her expectations. But Klaus' behaviour puzzles Rezia. Maybe he mistook her for Gina - but why should he be so angry? What was Gina not telling her? Gradually Klaus' efforts to make amends by taking Rezia to dinner - and even to his Long Island home enables them to develop a more relaxing relationship. But then photographs of Klaus in his home are published and he blames Rezia. Can their friendship survive?

Who shot farmer Harris during a pheasant shoot? He has built cow sheds and pig pens near the entrance to Comfree Abbey, and Sir Hugo and his new wife Deborah fear the smell will put off their prospective guests when they open the Abbey as a superior private hotel. Dodie Fanshaw investigates all those at the shoot. The police, however, seem to suspect Sir Hugo. But almost anyone could have done it, and a few villagers had their own quarrels with Farmer Harris.

Why do the owners of fabulous jewels refuse to have the police called in when they are stolen? How could a thief open a bedroom safe?Dodie has an aversion to exercise - and even more to massage. But she is persuaded to go to the Yorkshire health spa by Elena, whose boy friend is cousin to the owners.Suspicion obviously falls on the maids, but other staff have legitimate reasons to visit guest rooms.But how they dispose of such well-known jewels?Then a murder and the plot thickens.

When Dodie Fanshaw goes to stay with her old friend Christine, she soon realises there are tensions, both in the family living at the Manor and the one where Elena is organising daughter Rebecca's wedding. John, the young brother of Robert, who owns the Manor, hates his Uncle Michael, Robert's Trustee, and because he wants to be a detective, gains a reputation as a snooper. Then there is a tragic death, but was it the right victim? Plenty of people have both motive and opportunity, and Dodie is determined to discover the truth.

This privateer is not what Sibylla expects! She is in love with her brother Gerard's former friend, Randolph, and meeting him secretly. When she discovers he means to betray Gerard, who is working to help restore Charles II to the throne, he dare not leave her and abducts her, taking her on a fishing boat. They are captured by Josselin, a French Privateer, who takes them to his chateau. Randolph escapes, and fearing for Gerard they chase him to St Malo, and the wide bay with its rapidly retreating tide. How can Gerard be saved and Randolph defeated?

Hugo, Earl of Winton, needs a wife and an heir if his weak cousin William and his unpleasant French wife Hortense, with the son who might not be her husband's, is not to succeed him. He decides Phillipa Stannerly will be suitable. She is pretty, and an heiress. Phillipa, in love with Charles, is distraught. Then her French cousin Sophie du Plessis comes to London and promises to help her. Their mothers were twins, and the girls are sufficiently alike to confuse people who do not know them well. When Hugo sees Sophie on her own he offers her a lift home, intending to pursue his suit in the belief she is Phillipa. She maintains the deception, hoping to prove to her uncle that Hugo is not a fit husband for Phillipa. Her behaviour is, however, unlike Phillipa's shy response, and Hugo is intrigued.

Janie Tempest's idyllic cottage, left to her by her godmother, is being demolished to make way for a new industrial park, and at the last minute the removal company can't do the job of moving her large items. Luckily the men dealing with her neighbour's move are willing to help. The handsome Manuel asks her out for dinner, and then becomes involved in her feckless sister's latest disaster. To make things even worse, Brian, the step-nephew of her godmother produces a will leaving the cottage to him.

The second Dodie Fanshaw mystery by Marina Oliver, author of 80+ novels. Dodie's rural peace is shattered, first by a mermaid walking up the lawn from the river Thames, and then by a body near the pool. The body belonged to an author who lived next door. His girlfriend, publisher and agent, ex-lovers and neighbours crowd the garden. But who might have killed this best-selling novelist? And why? Inevitably Dodie is drawn into trying to solve the mystery.

The Golden Road When Josie Shaw's stepfather George dies, and she and her mother Dora are left with nothing but debts. Dora wants Josie to make a good marriage. Josie, however, is strong and independent. George's son Leo, offers Josie a job as a secretary in his Birmingham jewellery factory. Together with her cousin Lizzie, Josie becomes fascinated by the motoring rallies popular in the 1930s, and longs to compete in the Monte Carlo Rally. Then a chain of disasters strike, and she has no job, no home, and little hope of a bright future. The contrasts of the Birmingham slums, the glamorous world of jewels, fast motor cars and the ultimate test of stamina in the Monte Carlo Rally make this an absorbing read. About Marina Oliver Marina has more than 80 novels published, all are available as ebooks. Marina has also written several guide books for aspiring writers. For more information about Marina and details of all her books see her website: http://www.marina-oliver.net

Nell is desperate to escape from her drunken, violent father and the Birmingham slum where they live. This is made possible with the help of Gwyneth, who has fled from her father, a bigoted Welsh preacher. Both want to dance, and at the studio they meet Kitty, wealthy, but neglected by her mother and not knowing who her father is. Together the three friends soon join a chorus line and begin to dance at 1920s Music Halls. They have to overcome threats from their families, and the attractions of the men who admire them. There is Paul, a wealthy doctor, the dilettante Hon Timothy, and Kitty's cousin Andrew, saxophonist. Helping them are Marigold and Richard Endersby, who feature in The Cobweb Cage. A dream is about to come true when they are selected to dance at the Folies-Bergère in Paris, but can they overcome the many obstacles and disasters that assail them?

Marigold Smith, born into the small mining town of Hednesford, is devoted to her family, especially the small and delicate Ivy, for whose accident she blames herself. She is determined to try and make life easier for Ivy and her middle sister, Poppy, as well as her hard-working parents.When she is given the chance of going into service in Oxford she meets the wealthy and charming Richard Endersby, whose father owns a factory in the Potteries. Despite the differences of class, education, and background they fall in love. Then comes the Great War, and Richard, a qualified pilot, joins the army.He is reported missing, Marigold's family is struck by tragedy, and she has to make an agonising decision in order to be able to help them. Through her they can escape from poverty and she can build a business to support them all.

The Earl of Winton was a notorious rake at the Court of Charles II, but falls in love with Sophie when he abducts her in mistake for her cousin Phillipa. They plan their wedding, but Sophie and her parents must go home to France, where her grandmother is ill. Strange happenings follow them, and they suspect Hugo's discarded mistress, Kate Trent, and Monsieur de Terville, a probable agent of King Louis XIV, both of whom wish them ill.

Judy goes to dog-sit for sister Fay while she and Paul are away. She unexpectedly finds Justin, Paul's cousin, also there. Then her ex-fiancé Mark arrives, angry she has rejected him. And the luscious Sadie moves in next door. Busy trying to establish her business selling greetings cards, preparing for a local craft fair, descended on by her parents, Judy frets at these distractions.

Luke Peters, French aristocrat, has escaped from the guillotine to England, and needs to protect his sister from vicious revolutionaries while searching for the family jewels. Hoping the Earl of Redditch can help, he becomes the Earl's valet, then disaster strikes and he might be accused of murder.

Catriona's father is lost at sea, and her mother loses the will to live, leaving her with her Uncle, who wants to marry her to a much older, stern newcomer. Cat is determined to escape, and does so with the help of her cousin. But she needs to hide from them all, until she can go to her father's Dutch family in Amsterdam. Expert in fabric printing and making her own dyes, she persuades Rory Napier, struggling to manage his uncle's linen manufacturing in Glasgow, to employ her to supervise the new processes. Though she is successful, their relationship is stormy. Can they succeed despite the problems and the rivalries?

Evicted from their Highland croft, Jamie and Flora Lennox, with their baby daughter and other families of the township, go to Nova Scotia to start a new life. The leaving of the glen is heart-rending, and soon more disasters strike, on the voyage and as they move westwards to find suitable land. Can they survive in this new, raw country? Will they find happiness in their new lives?

When Mr Greenslade, owner of Green Valley Garden Centre, falls from his wheelchair one night and is rushed into hospital, his daughter Tansy, talented interior designer, gives up the chance of a prestigious commission to go home to the Cotswolds and take charge. Things have been going wrong at the Garden Centre, small irritating mistakes, petty vandalism, and what increasingly seems like major sabotage. Is the incompetent manager responsible, or the charismatic Karl, whose company is trying to buy the centre?

London 1906.Livvy faces several battles. Patients will not accept her as a 'proper' doctor. Politicians will not grant votes to women. And she can never marry Sir James while their beliefs are so different: he thinks letting women vote is wrong, and would never consider allowing a wife to work. Can there be any meeting between their minds?

Lucy, widow of a young pop star, moves to an idyllic country cottage to start a new life. Drowning her sorrows when she is let down by the staid Edward, the latest man in her life, she is unprepared for having Rosa, a llama, invade her kitchen. Is this a mirage? Soon, though, she is drawn into helping Rosa's owner, the charismatic Cas Finlay, who needs to find Rosa a mate.

An apparently harmless loss of a contraceptive chemical turns out to be a disaster affecting not only the coalition government and the civil service, who have to cope, but most of the population. It also gives the press unprecedented opportunities for scoops, and for some people who will always find ways to profit. People view the future with varying degrees of horror, delight or panic. Jennifer Joy, the civil servant controlling Randy Jolliphant, the Minister for Leisure and Pleasure, who becomes responsible, relishes the task until she discovers her own plans are going to be affected by the consequences.

Can one find love again? Julie's husband was killed in a car smash three years ago.She is bullied into taking a cruise by her sister Susan, who works in the gift shop on the ship. Robert, who lost his fiancée just before their wedding, has other things on his mind as he tries to solve the mystery of thefts from passengers. Then Steven, a figure from the past, takes a hand.

In 1926 the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-on-Avon burnt down, barely five weeks before the start of the annual Festival. Rosa Greenwood and her sister Celia were devastated. They had small roles in the Festival, hoping it would lead to acting careers.While helping to remove priceless treasures from the theatre Library Rosa met Max Higham, an American architect in Europe studying theatre design.Rosa was wary of her growing attraction to Max, yet reluctant to marry Adam Thorn, a lifelong friend and distant cousin. Celia was encouraged to run away to London and audition, by the actor Gilbert Meadows, and begs the help of her friend Agnes.Furious, her father forbad Rosa to contemplate more acting, while Jack, her older brother who was a changed person since he fought in the war, spends his days driving waggons for the family carrier business. Can any of them achieve their hearts' desires?

Eve longs to escape from her rigidly disciplinarian father, and experience life away from her small Herefordshire village. Her brother James longs to join the army fighting Napoleon in the peninsula. Eve is fascinated by cider-making, and despite her father's disapproval, makes it with the help of a local farmer. When Justin, the Earl of Newark, discovers her in boys' clothes high up an apple tree picking her apples, he is intrigued.